Florida Property & Casualty Association
FLORIDA PROPERTY & CASUALTY ASSOCIATION
AUTOMOBILE DIVISION
Safe Florida Driver Campaign (SFDC) Task Force
MARCH 23, 2010
A Meeting of the Florida Property and Casualty Association’s (FPCA) Automobile Division was held at 12:00 p.m. on March 23, 2010, in Tallahassee, FL.
I.Call to Order
The following Members were in attendance:
Chuck GrimsleyUnited Auto
Jimmy WhitedWindhaven
Randy SuttonSeminole
Ron SammarioSeminole
In addition to the foregoing Members, Fred Karlinsky, Katie Webb, and Trevor Mask of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A. (CFTKA) were in attendance, as well as Don Silver from Boardroom Communications.
II.Antitrust Statement
The statement was read by Chairman Grimsley and heard by the Members.
III.Funding
A.Identify Who Will Oversee
The group developed two options for oversight: 1) a small executive committee comprised of a representative from CFTKA and FPCA Committee Members, or 2) a small executive committee comprised of a representative from CFTKA, FPCA and Non-FPCA members.
B.Member Company Commitments- the members committed to raising $200,000.
C.Agent Conventions and Donations (Big I, LAAIA, PIA & SA)
D.Vendor Donations – law firms, reinsurance brokers, printing companies, etc.
E.Consumer Donations – “Would you donate $5 to stop insurance fraud and lower your annual premium by at least $250?”
The group discussed raising $1,000,000 for this initiative. $200,000 would be raised by the membership and $800,000 could potentially be raised by the agent, vendor and consumer donations. It was noted that the $1,000,000 was a lofty goal and expenditures would be made on the most important needs. The need to provide campaign contributions was the top priority followed by media expenditures. TV advertisements could be made if the money was sufficient. Mr. Silver noted that press editorials could be part of the media plan that would be significantly less expensive than TV.
The members discussed meeting personally with agent association representatives. Officials from Big I, LAAIA, PIA and SA will need to be identified.
Mr. Grimsley suggested this campaign should take the form of a separate corporation with a bank account specifically for the purpose of pursing legislative initiatives to combat fraud in the Florida automobile insurance market.
IV.Strategy
A.Attorneys’ Fees Only – nothing involving chiropractors or doctors
The Members discussed crafting a proposal to adopt an attorney fee schedule for PIP claims. Mr. Grimsley noted this could be something similar to the attorney fee schedule in workers’ compensation. Mr. Grimsley emphasized that keeping the proposed reform to one subject involving attorneys’ fees would avoid the prospect of chiropractors and doctors joining with trial attorneys to defeat the bill.
The Members should provide specific examples of PIP fraud as back up materials to support its arguments and prove to Legislators the rampant fraud and abuse.
B.Consider right to consolidate multiple lawsuits involving the same insured
V.Legislature
A.House Leadership
The Members agreed that a conversation with incoming Speaker Dean Cannon should be scheduled to determine his desire to move forward with this proposal. Mr. Mask noted that generally speaking, the Florida House leans toward the conservative side on attorney fee issues.
B.Senate Leadership
Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos is moving the Senate to a more favorable climate for issues such as this. The Senate generally will likely be less trial bar friendly.
C.Multiple sponsors in both the House and Senate – How do we accomplish?
Gaining sponsorship will begin as soon as the 2010 Session ends. Co-sponsors of bills will be sought as this proposal moves forward. Lobbyists will be contacting Members throughout the summer to determine their desire to move forward on this initiative.
VI.Governor
A.Strategy if Bill McCollum wins
B.Strategy if Alex Sink wins
Bill McCollum will likely be a better advocate for this initiative. This strategy will need to be further addressed once the new Governor is seated.
VII.Support
A.PCIAA – William Stander
B.FIC – Gary Guzzo
C.State Farm – Mark Delegal
D.Division of Insurance Fraud
E.National Insurance Crime Bureau
F.Institute of Insurance Information
G.Others?
The Members discussed gaining support among all interested parties. In addition to the groups above, this group should reach out to business groups such as the Florida Chamber and Associated Industries of Florida.
VIII.Public Relations
A.Boardroom Communications – how do we get the biggest bang for our buck?
B.Editorial Op-eds
C.Grass roots efforts – a couple of busloads of consumers, agents, employees to hold up banners: “Stop PIP Fraud Now!”
As noted above, Mr. Silver suggested op-eds would be the most efficient use of dollars. Should the group reach its goal of $1,000,000, other efforts (such as TV advertising) become viable.
IX.Adjourn
Following these discussion, the meeting was adjourned.
FPCA Automobile Division SFDC Task Force Meeting Minutes 3.23.10 - Page 1 of 3